New Catch Limits Set for Alaska's Bering Sea Groundfish
Published Date: 3/10/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting March 18, 2026, new fishing limits for groundfish in Alaska’s Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands will guide the 2026 and 2027 seasons. These rules help protect fish populations while supporting fishermen and the fishing industry. If you fish or rely on these waters, get ready for updated catch limits and some closed areas to keep the ocean healthy and thriving.
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 6 mixed.
Total TACs Set at 2.0M mt
If you fish groundfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, the sum of all total allowable catches (TACs) is set at 2.0 million metric tons for both 2026 and 2027. These final harvest specifications are effective starting 1200 hrs Alaska local time on March 18, 2026, through 1200 hrs A.l.t. on March 18, 2027.
Pollock Apportionments and ICAs Fixed
For both 2026 and 2027 the BS subarea pollock apportionment after subtracting 10% for CDQ and a 46,000 mt incidental catch allowance (ICA) is split 50% to the inshore sector, 40% to the catcher/processor sector, and 10% to the mothership sector, with seasonal splits of 45% A season and 55% B season. The AI subarea ICA is set at 4,500 mt. Harvest within the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA) is limited to no more than 28% of the DFA before 12 p.m. A.l.t. on April 1.
Pacific Cod Sector Shares and ICAs
Pacific cod allocations for the combined BSAI (after a 10.7% CDQ deduction) assign specific percentages to sectors (e.g., 1.4% to jig gear, 48.7% to hook-and-line catcher/processors, 22.1% to trawl CVs, and others). NMFS sets an incidental catch allowance (ICA) of 500 mt for hook-and-line and pot sectors, and for trawl CVs (PCTC Program) an ICA of 1,500 mt in A season and 600 mt in B season. The Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit is 2,864 mt for 2026 and 2027. An AI set-aside for AI shoreplants is not in effect for 2026.
AI Pacific Cod Up; Alaska Plaice Down
The final rule increases the Aleutian Islands (AI) Pacific cod TAC by 519 metric tons for 2026 and increases it by 519 mt again for 2027. To keep the BSAI total TAC at 2.0 million mt, Alaska plaice TACs are reduced by 518 mt in 2026 and by 518 mt in 2027.
State Guideline Harvest Levels Adopted
The State of Alaska's guideline harvest levels (GHLs) are accounted for: AI sablefish GHL is set at 5% (1,223 mt) of the combined BS+AI apportionment for 2026 and 2027; BS pot Pacific cod GHL remains 13% of the BS ABC, equal to 18,398 mt for 2026; AI Pacific cod GHL decreased to 31% (4,022 mt) for 2026. NMFS approved TACs that account for these GHLs.
Sablefish Gear Split and IFQ Timing
Sablefish TAC gear allocations are set at 50% trawl / 50% fixed gear in the BS subarea and 25% trawl / 75% fixed gear in the AI subarea. Fixed-gear sablefish TACs are established only for 2026 (one year) so that the fixed-gear sablefish IFQ fishery can be conducted concurrently with the halibut IFQ fishery, which opens March 26, 2026. Sablefish IFQ fisheries remain closed at the start of each year until final harvest specifications are in effect.
Halibut PSC Limits and Sector Shares
The BSAI halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) limits total 1,770 mt and are apportioned as 315 mt to the groundfish CDQ Program PSQ reserve, 745 mt to the BSAI trawl limited access sector, and 710 mt to the BSAI non-trawl sector. For 2026 the Amendment 80 sector halibut PSC limit is set at 1,309 mt based on survey indices.
Atka Mackerel Jig Allocation Set to 0%
NMFS approves a 0 percent allocation of the EAI District and BS subarea Atka mackerel TAC to vessels using jig gear for 2026 and 2027. This follows Council recommendations and recent years' lack of jig-gear harvest for Atka mackerel.
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